Facebook beefs up suicide prevention focused on live video

Facebook beefs up suicide prevention focused on live video

By AP Technology Writer By BARBARA ORTUTAY (AP)

March 20, 2017

AP

Caption

This image provided by Facebook shows a demonstration of live reporter support, an example of one of the company's suicide prevention tools. Facebook is beefing up its suicide prevention tools, adding ways for crisis workers to reach out to people through Messenger. It‚Äôs also adding options for people to report if someone might harm themselves while broadcasting on Facebook Live and is streamlining the process to report posts about suicide or self-injury. Facebook has had suicide prevention tools for more than a decade. (Facebook via AP)

NEW YORK – Facebook is beefing up its suicide prevention tools, including new options for people to report if someone might harm themselves while broadcasting on Facebook Live.

Facebook said it’s in a “unique position,” through personal connections people have on Facebook, to help connect those in distress with people who can support them.

To this end, people watching a Facebook Live broadcast will be able to report the video for an escalated response from Facebook. Facebook can reach out to emergency workers if the person is in imminent danger. Separately, the person filming also will be shown a set of resources pop up on their phone screen, so they can contact a friend or a help line.

The company also is streamlining the process to report posts about suicide or self-injury. And someone feeling depressed will have easier ways to contact crisis workers through Messenger.

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